The Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) has dismissed national team head coach Sabri Lamouchi just hours after Tunisia suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening Group F match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The decision follows a disappointing result that caused concern within the Tunisian camp, with federation officials believing that a swift change in leadership could help revive the team's hopes of progressing in the tournament.
The federation has confirmed that plans are underway to appoint former Tunisia coach Mondher Kebaier as interim head coach.
Lamouchi, 54, was appointed in January this year, replacing his predecessor, but his tenure lasted only around five months.
During that period, he oversaw a limited number of matches, with performances failing to convince football authorities in the country. Prior to the World Cup, Tunisia had also suffered a 5-0 defeat to Belgium in a friendly match, increasing the pressure on the coaching staff.
Against Sweden, Tunisia appeared outmatched across several areas of the pitch and ended up suffering one of the heaviest defeats in the nation's World Cup history. Following the match, Lamouchi admitted that his team made too many mistakes, which contributed to the result.
Tunisia now face two crucial remaining group-stage matches against Japan and the Netherlands as they attempt to keep their qualification hopes alive. However, a goal difference of -4 has made their path to the knockout rounds considerably more difficult.
The decision to dismiss Lamouchi after just one World Cup match ranks among the quickest managerial changes ever seen during the tournament, highlighting the immense pressure faced by national teams competing on football's biggest stage.
